The Gospel with Evidence
Christmas Objection?

Jesus couldn't possibly have been born in December, much less December 25, when many Christians celebrate His birth, right?

No one knows exactly the date of Jesus' birth. Critics of Christianity like to point to the celebration of Jesus' birth on December 25, as nothing more than another myth in which Christians believe. For example, atheist Oxford professor Richard Dawkins wrote for the socialist magazine New Statesman in 2007, "Certainly, nobody takes seriously the legend that he was born in December. Late Christian tradition simply attached Jesus' birth to a long-established and convenient winter solstice festival." Is it as certain as he claims?

Let's look carefully at the Bible, and see if there isn't some evidence which will shed light on this question.

1. First, the likely date of John the Baptist's birth can be determined. In Luke 1:5 we read that Zacharias was a priest of the division of Abijah, and he was serving "in the appointed order of his division." According to 1 Chronicles 24:10, the division of Abijah drew the eighth lot, that is, the eighth month, with the first service (lot) being the Hebrew month of Nisan (March-April). The result is that Zacharias must have been serving some time in October. Assuming Elizabeth conceived upon his return home (Luke 1:23-24) John the Baptist must have been conceived in what we would today call late October or early November.
2. Mary conceived, according to Luke 1:26-27, in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, which would be around April. If it was early in the month, then nine months later, the date of Jesus' birth, would be in late December or early January. Why not December 25th when people were already accustomed to celebrating? (Though not among the earliest traditions of the church, the December date for celebrating Christ's birth goes back to the mid-fourth century. Some have noted that there is not a month in the year to which Christ's birth has not been assigned at some point!)
3. A second line of argument against Jesus being born in December was that it was winter, and shepherds–it is alleged–would not have their sheep out in the fields at night (Luke 2:8) in the cold. However, ewes in Israel conceive in July with a gestation time of five months. Ewes start lambing in mid-December, which is why the shepherds are with them all night-to protect and care for the newly born lambs. If Jesus was born in December, there is no surprise at all that shepherds would be "watching over their flocks by night."
4. Furthermore, Jewish tradition and Old Testament prophecy held that when the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) He would first be revealed from the "tower of the flock"–a special watch tower which lay close to Bethlehem but on the road to Jerusalem. A rabbinic rule provided that any lamb born in a flock from Jerusalem to Bethlehem must be presumed to be for sacrifice. Those who tended these flocks were not ordinary shepherds. They were those who tended year round the lambs destined for Temple sacrifice. How providential that the birth of Jesus should be announced first to those whose vocation would help them anticipate that this "Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11) would have a future destiny in Jerusalem. His birth would have been as the Lamb of God, with all the other intended sacrificial lambs. Indeed, His ultimate sacrifice on the cross ended the need for further sacrifices on the altar. Thus, Jesus' death meant that the other sacrificial lambs wouldn't have to die anymore. Truly, He is the Lamb of God who became our substitute to take away our sin and death (John 1:29).

Considering this biblical, historical evidence, you should feel free to celebrate Christmas in December without intimidation!

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